Governor Dalrymple, left, his wife, Betsy, and Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley before the start of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota 5K on Friday night.

Dalrymple thanked Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota in his blog for stepping up and taking care of the final 500 registrations for the Fargo Marathon’s 5K when registration fell short of the goal of 10,000. The goal of 10,000 registered participants in the 5K would have combined $1 from every registration and matching funds from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and the Dakota Medical Foundation so that 1,000 pairs of running shoes could be donated to local kids.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota President and CEO Paul von Ebers addresses runners Friday night before the start of the 5K. Governor Dalrymple is at right.

Fargo Marathon organizer Mark Knutson announced just before the start of the 5K that the event had reached 9,500 registered participants. But Knutson evoked a loud ovation from the crowd when he told those assembled that Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota President and CEO Paul von Ebers had just committed to cover the matching funds needed from the 500 registration shortfall, ensuring that 1,000 kids would get new shoes after all.

Did you attend the 5K or other Fargo Marathon events last weekend? What did you think of the event and participation numbers? What do you think about the effort to give away running shoes to kids?

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